20
votes
Accepted
Why use delay instead of reverb?
Reverb and delay aren't completely unrelated effects - reverb can be thought of as a network of many short delays.
While reverb can provide a realistic simulation of an acoustic space, using a lot ...
20
votes
Accepted
Why is reverb typically called "wet' or "drippy"?
Reverb is actually the effect of playing in confined, walled spaces - the sound bounces off the walls giving a diffused sort of echo. In a wide open space there is zero reverb. (The original, now ...
16
votes
Accepted
Why does plugging headphones directly into guitar effect sound "bad"?
Guitar overdrives/fuzz boxes etc are designed to be fed to guitar amps.
This isn't even really a problem of impedance or even output voltage, it's one of EQ curve.
Guitar amps [& speakers] really ...
13
votes
Accepted
How should I interpret decimals in guitar tabs?
I believe that this is referring to where you would place your finger to get the desired harmonics. The harmonic that generates the major third is right before the 4th fret, which would be 3.85. 3.2 ...
13
votes
Accepted
What is the guitar effect being used in Fine Young Cannibals' She Drives Me Crazy?
Yeah, it's a heavy comp, but it's combined with the actual playing style, which is a really slow drag across the chord each time.
I think it's either combined with a slight delay panned half right, or ...
11
votes
What can a modern DAW do with analog sounds?
All the sounds in a DAW are digital, not analog. What you're working with is a digital recording of your analog sound source (guitar, voice, whatever). Every digital effect can be used on every ...
10
votes
Should I connect my multi-effects pedal to PA or Amp?
It depends, really. If you decide to connect it to the input your amp, you do want to disable the amp modelling in the pedal (assuming that's possible).
I can think of three ways to hook this up. I'...
9
votes
Accepted
How do bass effects differ from guitar effects?
Sometimes it's just the color of the case, the branding (Bass Fuzz X28-B instead of just Fuzz X28), and the marketing ("As seen in Bass Magazine!").
If it goes beyond that, well obviously bass ...
9
votes
Accepted
How is this octave jump achieved on electric guitar?
Pinch harmonics
In the example video, she is using a type of artificial harmonic known as a pinch harmonic, which involves simultaneously hitting the string with the pick (plectrum) and (usually the) ...
9
votes
Effect for "rounding off" guitar pick attack
I don’t think Kurt is using an effect, I think he’s using a technique. Some techniques that round out the attack include:
Plucking with fingers
Picking/plucking closer to the fingerboard
Using the ...
8
votes
What is the characteristic reverb effect on Fender amps?
I'm not sure what you mean by the "aggressive"sound, but yes it's a thing, and it's called spring reverb.
It's essentially a couple of transducers, connected at either end of one or more metal ...
8
votes
Accepted
Acoustic guitar with humbucker pickup sounds like an electric guitar, not acoustic
So this guitar is quite a unique model, the John Lennon signature. Its pickup is not an acoustic-guitar pickup at all but, well, basically a standard high-impedance humbucker in small format.
It's no ...
8
votes
Accepted
What is meant when a guitar amplifier does or does not "take" guitar pedals?
First, an amp "taking pedals well" has little to do with modeling amps specifically or internal effects of any kind. I don't have much experience with modern modeling amps but I'd guess that they are ...
8
votes
Was tube screamer designed to run into already distorted tone
Since the most iconic Tube Screamer sounds I can think of (e.g., Stevie Ray Vaughan and Trey Anastasio) have been created using very clean amp sounds, and distortion/overdrive pedals were invented to ...
8
votes
Why is reverb typically called "wet' or "drippy"?
In American restaurant vernacular, a food item without any added condiment [e.g. toast without butter] is "dry". If effects like reverb are viewed as audio condiments, sound without such effects ...
8
votes
Accepted
Effect for "rounding off" guitar pick attack
Assuming that you don't want to just replicate that exact sound in the exact position of the video.
Guitar tone control, attenuate/cut the highs
Guitar volume control (manual swell)
Volume pedal (...
8
votes
Xlr output in guitar processor
XLR output is useful when connecting directly to mixing console or audio interface with XLR cable (rather than connecting to a guitar amplifier with instrument cable).
XLR connection is differential. ...
7
votes
Why bass eq pedal has wider range than guitar eq
Surprisingly, a lot of a bass guitar's tone comes from the high frequencies. Without them you can end up with synthesiser-like tone - very blurry and undefined - so being able to tweak the higher ...
7
votes
Accepted
Choosing a guitar stompbox for producing moderate distortion (general advice)
You'll have no idea whether you're really hearing a pedal correctly or not until you fix or replace that bad cable. The same goes for amp settings. Cranking the master volume throws off the EQ balance ...
7
votes
Accepted
Cheap way of reversing pedal order
If you're looking for a DIY method, that would be a latching 3PDT (3 pole double throw) switch, which comprises three two-way switches, flipped at the same time with a single button. You also need six ...
6
votes
Accepted
Can I use a BOSS Power Supply with a JHS Andy Timmons Drive Pedal?
A Boss PSA-style PSU should work fine.
https://www.jhspedals.com/faqs/ says:
All of our pedals use a standard 9v DC adapter with a negative ground
Well, 9v DC, centre negative is the Boss-style ...
6
votes
Accepted
Is 31,250 kHz enough sampling rate for guitar effect
All other things being equal, higher sampling rates are generally seen as better as they allow higher frequencies to be reconstructed when the signal is converted back to analogue.
Simplistically ...
6
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between parallel and series effects loop
The most common way guitarist chain their effects together is in series. This means that the original output source (the guitar) is plugged in to the input of the first effects pedal and the output ...
6
votes
Where should a buffer pedal be placed in the signal chain?
If you are using a signal chain that includes other pedals, and your cable from the guitar to those pedals is fairly short, then you probably don't need a dedicated buffer at all, because any other ...
6
votes
What does EXP stand for on guitar effect pedal control knob?
In guitar pedal lingo - "EXP" usually means expression as in "expression pedal" which can be used to control effects such as a wha wha but are also used by guitarist to facilitate real time control of ...
6
votes
What does this foot switch do?
Simple solution - open the box! follow the wiring. It probably re-routes an input to different outputs, so, for example, a guitar or mic can be plugged into it, and pushing the switch sends that ...
6
votes
What does this foot switch do?
Seems to be a simple routing box - the input can be sent to an external 'Effects Loop' (hence the name) or not. The LED indicates whether the loop is switched in or not. The capacitors reduce ...
6
votes
Why does my guitar pedal "pop" when I click it?
True bypass pedals often pop when switched at first because of a buildup of static electricity that is discharged when the pedal is engaged. Usually turning the pedal on and off a few times with the ...
6
votes
Accepted
How can I make any knob on any pedal controllable with an expression pedal?
If you just want to be able to give the control a tweak with your foot now and again, rather than needing to 'ride' it, the simplest solution is probably an option knob:
If you really want to be able ...
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